Maoists Blame NC For Delay In Govt Formation
The meeting of the central secretariat of the Maoists, Saturday (July 12), concluded that Nepali Congress (NC) was stalling their attempt to form the new government. The party has also concluded that it will opt out of the whole process if the procedure to form the government is not allowed to begin yet again. "It has been decided that we will opt out of the whole process if the procedure to elect president/vice president, CA chairman/vice chairman, and government formation does not begin following the amendment of the constitution," Maoist leader Dev Gurung told Kantipur. Gurung accused NC of stalling the process to form the new government. "The NC has been obstructing the process for the past three months," he said. The party has also said that it will not field its candidate for the position of president. The meeting had also decided to seek political consensus on allocation of powerful positions, including the president, vice-president and the chair of the Constituent Assembly. "We have decided to allocate the posts in a manner that will satisfy all," Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' told reporters after the six-hour long meeting held at a resort in Dhulikhel, Kavre district. Compiled from reports
Feb 28 Pact With Madhesis Was Flawed: UML Gen Secy
General secretary of the CPN-UML Jhala Nath Khanal said today that the February 28 agreement reached between the government and the then United Democratic Mahdesi Front was flawed in its content and that it should be reviewed for the greater interest of the nation. "Clauses No. 2 and 5 of agreement are erroneous and we have strong objection over them," Khanal said, addressing the national-level gathering of the UML-affiliated Sampark Manch held at the party headquarters, Balkhu. According to the clause No. 2 and 5 of the agreement, Madhes would be declared an autonomous Pradesh (State) and the "group-wise entry" of the Madhesi communities would be ensured in the Nepal Army. Prime Minister G P Koirala signed agreement on behalf of the Government of Nepal and three Mdhesi leaders signed it on behalf of the then United Democratic Madhesi Front. "We will never accept this agreement because it intends at disintegrating the country. This agreement was done keeping the Seven-Party Alliance's talks team at dark, nor was the SPA consulted before the signing of the agreement in Baluwatar," Khanal said. It was not appropriate to hold the election reaching such an agreement that compromises with sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the country, he said, adding: "Holding CA polls was not a greater issue than the protection of national interest." The Himalayan Times daily reports
Prachanda Fears Disintegration Of The Country
Maoist chairman Puspa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has warned that Nepal could head towards disintegration if it does not stick to the path of consensus politics to prevent such catastrophe. Speaking at the special press meet organized by the Reporters' Club on Friday (July 11), he said attempts were being made to paint the ethnic issues with communal color to disintegrate the country. He accused 'regressive elements and foreign forces who claim to be strong democrats' for fanning the communal fire especially in the southern belt. He expressed dissatisfaction at the remarks the leaders of the Madhes-based parties recently made at the Constituent Assembly (CA) saying they were disintegration-oriented. He emphasized that the political parties should work together until the new constitution is written. "But, the consensus should not be achieved on the basis of giving certain post to a certain person," he said. He also stressed that the post of president and chairman of CA should not become a component of power sharing. "Power sharing means sharing of ministerial posts," he said. At the same program, vice president of Nepali Congress (NC) and Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel said that the NC should be given the second choice in power sharing as it was the second largest party in the CA. Poudel called for unity between democratic and leftist forces to steer the country out of current crisis. He also expressed dissatisfaction over the remarks made by the leaders of Madhesi parties in the CA and their move to boycott the CA proceedings. On the other hand, CPN (UML) general secretary Jhala Nath Khanal asked that his party should be given the post of president to advance the consensus politics. He also stressed on the need to forge a common minimum program and code of conduct to run the next 'unity government.'
UNMIN's Western Wing Shut
The United Mission in Nepal closed its Pokhara-based western regional office on Friday (July 11). It may be noted that the UNMIN has already closed its offices based in the far-west and mid-west. Announcing the closure of the office, UNMIN chief Ian Martin thanked Nepali staffers for their cooperation. The office set up 15 months ago had a total of 68 staffers, including 43 Nepalis. Martin expressed worries over the failure of political parties to form a new government. He called for the formation of a new government through a due democratic process and early holding of local elections. "The political parties face the challenge of choosing the type of federal system suitable for Nepal," he said. The UNMIN chief urged the government to bring Tarai-based agitating armed groups to a peaceful path and called the armed groups not to infringe on people's rights. Martin said he would soon brief the UN Security Council on the peace process in Nepal. The UNMIN chief urged the political parties to address the problems of victims of Jana Andolan II. Commenting on fuel and food shortages in Nepal, he said these are common problems of all Nepalis and they should work together to resolve them.
Thapa Calls For Serious Talks On Federalism
Chairman of Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) Surya Bahadur Thapa has said serious political discussion is needed on the federal structure. Talking to Nepalnews on Thursday (July 10), former premier Thapa said that major parties "cannot decide the federal
structure without discussing it with other parties represented in the Constituent Assembly (CA) and other concerned groups". "Only the CA only can decide the federal structure", he added, warning that federal structure determined without studying the geographical, economic and cultural aspect could even lead to disintegration of the country. Blaming the major three parties for creating political uncertainly, Thapa emphasized that they must respect the verdict of the people. According to him, power-sharing is not a difficult task provided the three parties become ready to move ahead according to the mandate of the people.
Madhesi Leaders Spit Venom At Supplementary Bill
Even though the three Mashesi parties allowed the resumption of Constituent Assembly (CA) meeting, Wednesday (July 9) evening, their leaders blasted the government-sponsored and seven party-approved supplementary bill on constitution amendment claiming it does not address their demands. "Don't think that this is the end of our struggle. Our struggle has just started," said Upendra Yadav, coordinator of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), indicating possibility of continued confrontation among major parties. He said that the Madhesi parties had to allow the resumption of the CA only because the country was heading to a collapse due to lack of budget, delay in formation of new government and similar important matters. Mahantha Thakur, chief of Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP), also blasted the supplementary bill. "In fact, we had not expected you (seven parties) to fulfill our demands," he said, adding that Madhesi struggle will continue. Rajendra Mahato, chief of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP), also strongly deplored the bill and warned of intense struggle. Even as the Madhesi parties had demanded single Madhes province and group entry of Madhesis in the national army, the bill has provisions, which state that Nepal will be a federal democratic republic by upholding the aspirations of autonomous provinces of Madhesis, indigenous people and people from backward and other regions. The bill adds that the detailed definition regarding such provinces would be determined by the CA. Regarding the demand of group entry of Madhesis in the army, the bill says that the army will be made inclusive on the basis of principle of equality and inclusion. Compiled from reports
Prachanda Sees Foreign Hand In Dividing Parties
Maoist chairman Prachanda has said that 'foreign power centers' were engaged in dividing political parties into different camps. Speaking at a program in the capital, Wednesday (July 9), he accused that domestic and some foreign power centers were hatching conspiracies against the people. He did not clarify the foreign power centers. "At times, you can find a leader of political party is not actually representing the party but some other power centers – the US, Europeans or India," Prachanda said. He made these remarks at a time when there has been delay in the formation of new government, which Prachanda is preparing to lead as the leader of the party that emerged as the single largest from the April 10 Constituent Assembly election.
RPP-N For Maoist-Led Govt
Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal (RPP-N) chairman Kamal Thapa on Tuesday (July 8) announced that his party fully supports the CPN- Maoist, the largest party in the Constituent Assembly (CA). Thapa also said that only the Maoist have the right to form the new government as per the people's mandate. Inaugurating the assembly of RPP-N' activists of Bagmati zone in the capital today, chairman Thapa said that a new government must be formed immediately in the leadership of the Maoist. He opined that the mutual agreements and understanding among the parties helped in concluding the CA election successfully. Mentioning that the democracy must be respected at all times, Thapa added that the people will revolt against the parties who do not assist the Maoist in forming the next government. The remarks come from the RPP-N which has always been known as a strong supporter of the monarchy at a time when the CPN-Maoist is poised to head the next government. Compiled from reports
